Trump promises $5,000 to every adult American if Republicans win midterms

US President Donald Trump, speaking at the Republican Party convention in Dallas, Texas, said that if Republicans keep their majority in both the House of Representatives and the Senate after November's midterm elections, he would pay every adult US citizen a $5,000 "dividend."

Trump compared the idea to how successful companies pay dividends to their investors, saying such payments would be possible thanks to the country's economic success. He stated the only condition would be that the money must be spent inside the United States, adding he did not want recipients taking the money to, for example, Canada.

Funding source unclear

If carried out, the total cost of such payments could exceed $1.3 trillion, since the US adult population was estimated at around 267 million in 2025. It remains unclear where the funding would come from, how spending would be monitored, or whether such payments would even be legal. The promise comes at a time when, under Trump's own presidency, US national debt has reached a historic high of more than $40 trillion.

During his speech, Trump also warned that a Republican defeat in November would mean Americans losing border security, tax cuts and safety, promising supporters would face "hell" again, just as they did two years ago. He also claimed the US was no longer "the laughingstock of the world."

The pledge comes amid unfavorable polling for the White House, with Democrats holding a solid lead ahead of the elections. Trump has not hidden his concern over a potential defeat — in August, he told supporters he expects to face impeachment if Republicans lose their congressional majority.